Meet the Samsung I8800, Possibly the First Tizen Phone

With Samsung?s Bada OS mobile platform moving on to see the better days in the Tizen Linux-based phones, it was only a matter of time before the first devices leaked out. If we are to believe the images that got leaked to a Greek Tizen-dedicated website (and some Photoshop magic), the platform testing device appears to be the Galaxy S3 wrapped in a prototype protective shell of some sort. On the other hand, we do get a cleaner look on some of the Tizen 2.1 interface design and functionality as well.

Aside from the general Galaxy S3-ish shape of the prototype, there are plenty of similarities in the voice command interface as well.

At the very beginning of the year, Samsung noted that they will push the Tizen into the high-end smartphone category, which was officially confirmed mid-March, when their executive vice president of the mobile business Lee Young Hee said ?The Tizen phone will be out in August or September, and this will be in the high-end category. The device will be the best product equipped with the best specifications.? While the Tizen Developer Conference ended a few days ago, we could not manage to get much (if any) valid information regarding the platform and the final release date. With that said, some sources echo what was already assumed (and reported) a few months ago ? a rough ?third quarter of the year?. Conference did show up some major names supporting the platform, including the Unity Technologies, talented folks behind the Unity engine.

Instead of saying "Hi Galaxy" to wake up the voice function, the command is "Hi Tizen", though the system conserves the S Voice naming.

Screens show some of the configuration options as well as the "About" phone page, which confirms the Tizen 2.1

Recent trend with the most of the emerging mobile platforms has been the Android app ecosystem compatibility in one way or another. It is enough to refresh the memory of the new BB10 and the Sailfish. It will not be much of a surprise if the Tizen follows that same exact pattern closely. What certainly isn?t even a question is whether the Samsung can push the platform as wildly as it has pushed the Android. Just in case somehow, somewhere things go wrong with the Google Android.